Footwear having a lighted toe portion

ABSTRACT

Shoes having a lighted toe portion are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a lighted shoe includes a toe cap having plurality of molded toes and corresponding toenail portions. A plurality of lights can be positioned adjacent to corresponding toenail portions and emit light through the toenail portions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/037,042, filed on Aug. 13, 2014, and entitled, FOOTWEAR HAVING A LIGHTED TOE PORTION, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. To the extent the foregoing application and/or any other materials incorporated herein by reference conflict with the present disclosure, the present disclosure controls.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following disclosure relates generally to lighted footwear, and more particularly to footwear having a lighted toe portion.

BACKGROUND

Numerous types of footwear designs and styles have been developed to appeal to a variety of consumers. For example, shapes, colors, patterns and/or other characteristics have been used to create desirable shoes and to increase consumer demand. Additionally, several types of shoes have been developed that include lights for a variety of purposes and that are desirable to particular consumers. Some lighted shoes include lights that provide illumination to assist a wearer of the shoes in seeing their path in dark conditions. In other shoes, lights in a heel portion illuminate when a wearer of the shoes exerts pressure on the heel portion.

Although several types of lighted shoes have been developed, they do not provide characteristics with strong appeal to particular demographic groups. For example, there are an insignificant number of lighted shoes that are specifically designed for young children, such as young girls. Additionally, existing lighted shoes that are targeted towards young girls do not provide features that significantly resonate with this demographic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a lighted shoe configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cut-away, partially schematic overhead view of the lighted shoe of FIG. 1 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following disclosure describes embodiments of footwear having lighted toe portions. Some of the embodiments described below include features or advantages that overcome the limitations of existing lighted footwear. However, reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present technology should be or are in any single embodiment of the present technology. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present technology. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the present technology may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the present technology can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the present technology. Additionally, in the following description of various embodiments of the present technology, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present technology. In other instances, well known components, methods and procedures have not been described so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments of the present technology.

The features and advantages of the present technology will become more fully apparent from the following description, or may be learned by the practice of the present technology as set forth hereinafter. In order that the advantages of the present technology will be readily understood, a description of the present technology will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the present technology and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the present technology will be described and explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a lighted shoe 100 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the lighted shoe 100 (the “shoe 100”) includes several components, including a rand 102, an upper portion 104, and a toe portion 106. The toe portion 106 includes a toe cap 108 that is attached to the upper portion 104 and the rand 102. The rand 102 can extend around a base portion 109 that can include a sole, cushioning material, a liner, a footbed or insole, and/or other components. In several embodiments, the shoe 100 can include one or more graphics 107 on the upper portion 104. The graphics 107 can be shapes, characters, or other designs or images that appeal to a particular demographic (e.g., young girls). Although the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1 includes the graphics 107, in other embodiments, the upper portion 104 can be devoid of graphics. For example, in several embodiments, the upper portion 104 can include one or more fabrics or components in one or more solid colors, with no graphics. The shoe 100 can also include several other components, including a tongue 111 and a shoe lace 113.

As shown in FIG. 1, the toe cap 108 can be a molded component having a plurality of toes 110 molded therein. In particular, the toe cap 108 includes five toes 110 that are molded to represent the form of toes of a person that wears the shoe 100. Specifically, each of the toes 110 can be shaped, sized, and positioned to be representative of an average person's toes that would fit in the appropriate corresponding shoe size of the shoe 100 (e.g., a young girl). The toes 110 can include forms similar to the upper-portion of human toes and individual toes 110 can include a corresponding toenail portion 112. The toe cap 108 and the toenail portions 112 can be made from a variety of suitable materials, including, e.g., rubber or polyurethane, and can come in a variety of colors. In several embodiments, the shoe 100 includes a white rubber toecap 108 and translucent toenail portions 112. In other embodiments, the toecap 108 can be made of other materials and can come in alternative colors. Similarly, the toenail portions 112 can be made of a variety of transparent or clear materials, or opaque materials (e.g., vinyl, latex, etc.).

The shoe 100 can also include a plurality of lights 114. In the illustrated embodiment, the lights 114 are light emitting diodes (LEDs). In other embodiments, the lights 114 can be miniature incandescent bulbs, fiber optics, or any other suitable light emitting source or transmitter of light. Individual lights 114 are positioned adjacent (e.g., underneath) corresponding translucent toenail portions 112. As discussed further below, when the lights 114 are activated, emitted light is transmitted through the translucent toenail portions 112, “lighting” the toenail portions 112. The lights 114 can produce light of different colors. For example, in some embodiments, an individual light 114 may produce red, green, blue, yellow or orange light. In other embodiments, the lights 114 may produce other colors of lights. Additionally, in some embodiments, individual lights 114 may produce more than one color of light.

FIG. 2 is a cut-away, partially schematic overhead view of the shoe 100 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the tongue 111 the shoe lace 113, and part of the base portion 109 and the toe portion 106 have been cut-away to show additional components. In particular, the shoe 100 includes a controller 204 that is operably coupled to the lights 114 via a plurality of wires 202. The controller 204 is positioned within the base portion 109 and can include several electronic components that control the operation of the lights 114. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the controller 204 includes a battery 206, a power source 216, a switch 210, a processor 208, a memory 212, and an integrated circuit 214. The battery 206, the power source 216, the switch 210, the processor 208, and the memory 212 can be operably coupled to the integrated circuit 214. The memory 212 can be computer readable media in the form of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM), and/or non-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM).

The power source 216 can be an inertial power source (e.g., a rotor driven generator), a piezoelectric device, or any other suitable electrical power source. In several embodiments, the power source 216 can convert kinetic energy into electrical energy that lights the lights 114 and/or provides power to the battery 206. The battery 206 can store energy and provide energy to light the lights 114. The memory 212 can store instructions that can be executed by the processor 208 to deliver electrical signals in a variety of sequences to the lights 114. Although the embodiments described above include the circuit board 214, the memory 212 and the processor 208, other embodiments can include additional and/or alternative electronic components to control the operation of the lights 114. For example, logic circuits, clock circuits, CMOS integrated circuits, printed circuit boards (PCBs), flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs) and/or other suitable electronic components can be used to control the lights 114.

In operation, movement of a person wearing the shoe 100 provides kinetic energy to the power source 216. For example, when the power source 216 is an inertial power source (e.g., a rotor driven generator), the movement associated with walking, running, jumping, or any other physical activity can provide kinetic energy to the power source 216. Similarly, when the power source 216 is a piezoelectric device, the compressive forces generated during physical activity can provide energy to the power source 216. The power source 216 converts the energy into electrical energy that is delivered to the battery 206. The battery 206 can store the energy for subsequent delivery to the integrated circuit 214. In several embodiments, the switch 210 can be a kinetic switch that is activated by movement of the shoe 100. For example, movement of the shoe 100 can “trip” the switch 210 to activate the integrated circuit and the lights 114. In particular, upon movement of the shoe 100, the switch 210 can activate the integrated circuit such that the processor 208 executes instructions contained in the memory 212. The instructions can provide a sequence of operation for the lights 114. For example, the instructions, when executed, can initiate electrical signals that travel via the wires 202 and cause the lights 114 to flash in a sequence. In several embodiments, the memory 212 can include instructions having multiple sequences. For example, one sequence can cause the lights 114 to flash in order from left to right. Another sequence can cause the lights 114 to flash simultaneously one or more times. In some embodiments, the instructions can include multiple sequences that are executed sequentially and/or repeatedly. Additionally, in some sequences, the lights can be flashed in a random order, and in some embodiments one or more sequences may be executed in a random order. The sequence of multicolored lights flashing from the toenail portions 112, as well as the graphics 107, can make the shoes particularly desirable to specific demographics and increase consumer demand.

In several embodiments, the toenail portions 112 of the shoe 100 can be painted with a removable nail polish. The nail polish can be clear or colored nail polish and can be applied to cover all or a portion of one or more toenail portions 112. When colored nail polish is applied, the color of the light emitted by the lights 114 can be altered. For example, when an individual toenail portion 112 is painted with blue nail polish and is positioned above a light 114 that emits yellow light, the light that is emitted from the toenail portion may be green. Accordingly, the combination of the nail polish and the lighted toenail portions 114 can provide additional color options for the emitted light. These additional colors can increase the appeal of the shoes to particular demographics and increase consumer demand. Furthermore, the ability to remove the toenail polish and apply a different toenail polish that results in a different color of light can provide the opportunity for experimentation by consumers, which can also increase the desirability of the shoe 100.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the present technology have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the various embodiments of the present technology. For example, the shoes disclosed herein can be constructed in various shapes, sizes and arrangements, and can include a variety of colors of lights, graphics, fabric types and/or other components. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.

Although certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the applicant contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the applicant reserves the right to pursue additional claims after filing this application to pursue such additional claim forms. 

I/we claim:
 1. A shoe, comprising: a toe portion having a plurality of molded toes, wherein individual molded toes include corresponding toenail portions; and a plurality of lights, wherein individual lights are positioned adjacent corresponding toenail portions.
 2. The lighted shoe of claim 1 wherein the plurality of molded toes are shaped to correspond to toes of a foot having a size corresponding to the shoe.
 3. The lighted shoe of claim 1 wherein the toenail portions are translucent.
 4. The lighted shoe of claim 3 wherein the toenail portions are paintable to alter a color of light emitted via the lights.
 5. The lighted shoe of claim 1, further comprising means for activating the lights.
 6. The lighted shoe of claim 1, further comprising a controller having computer readable media storing instructions for flashing the lights in a sequence.
 7. The lighted shoe of claim 6 wherein the sequence is a first sequence, and wherein the instructions flash the lights in the first sequence followed by a second sequence, different than the first sequence.
 8. A lighted shoe, comprising: a molded toe cap having a plurality of molded toes; a plurality of at least partially transparent toenails, individual toenails positioned on corresponding individual toes; a plurality of lights, individual lights positioned adjacent corresponding toenails; and a controller operably coupled to the plurality of lights, wherein the controller is configured to activate the lights.
 9. The lighted shoe of claim 8 wherein the controller is further configured to activate the lights in a sequence.
 10. The lighted shoe of claim 8 wherein the toenails are paintable to alter a color of light emitted via the lights.
 11. The lighted shoe of claim 8 wherein the molded toes are shaped to represent human toes of sizes corresponding to a foot matching a size of the shoe.
 12. The lighted shoe of claim 8 wherein individual lights are configured to vary a color of emitted light.
 13. The lighted shoe of claim 8 wherein the controller includes a memory storing instructions for flashing the lights in a series of sequences.
 14. The lighted shoe of claim 8 wherein the toenails are paintable with an at least partially transparent toenail polish, and wherein the lights are positioned to emit light through the toenails and the toenail polish.
 15. A method for making a lighted shoe, the method comprising: forming a base portion; forming a toecap having a plurality of molded toes, wherein individual toes include corresponding toenail portions, and wherein the toenail portions are at least partially transparent; positioning a plurality of lights within the toecap, individual lights positioned adjacent to corresponding toenail portions; and electrically coupling a controller to the plurality of lights, wherein the controller is configured to control activation of the lights to emit light through the toenail portions.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising programming the controller to activate the lights to emit a series of sequences of flashes.
 17. The method of claim 15, further comprising instructing the application of toenail polish to the toenail portions.
 18. The method of claim 15 wherein forming the plurality of molded toes includes forming the individual toes to correspond to individual toes of a foot having a size corresponding to the shoe.
 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising programming the controller to activate the lights to emit a plurality of colors of lights.
 20. The method of claim 15, further comprising positioning a kinetic switch to activate the plurality of lights. 